Ayurveda Introduction Retreat

Live in harmony with nature, the Ayurveda Way

Synchronize your life with nature’s cycles for better health

Ayurveda is an ancient, 5,000 year-old health system from India and means the science or wisdom of life: Ayur (life) and Veda (study or knowledge). It’s thought to be the oldest healing system in the world. The knowledge contained in Ayurveda encompasses the nature, scope, and purpose of life. It’s the art of daily living. Ayurveda says that health encompasses every aspect of your life, such as physical, spiritual, emotional, mental, environmental, financial, vocational, relationships, and so on.

Ayurveda is a sister science with yoga. The reason for practicing Ayurveda, such as through food and lifestyle, is to create the right conditions for your body and life to create yoga, the union of self with the divine.

“Ayurveda gives us the guidelines for how to live our lives in a state of peace and happiness, how to create joy in our personal as well as social lives, and how to create balance, both within and without.” From Ashtanga Hridaya, ancient text

Join certified Ayurvedic Health Coach and Forest resident Jeni Enns for a weekend to nourish the mind, body, and senses through theory, experiential practices, and time on the Forest’s beautiful grounds. Together, in the company of a caring community, you will:

• Learn the basics of Ayurveda, including the 5 elements and 3 doshas.
• Discover your dosha and how Ayurveda can help you understand yourself better.
• Create a plan for daily and seasonal self-care rituals that help you thrive throughout each season.
• Learn natural beauty and self-care rituals that hold you and nourish you.
• Eat healthy, Ayurvedically-balanced meals and cook a meal together that introduces you to the six tastes.
• Drift off to restful sleep with yoga nidra.

Incorporating Ayurveda into your life can be done with simple, small shifts. It doesn’t mean you have to cook like you’re in India or necessarily be vegetarian. Ayurveda is as much about how and when something is eaten as it is about the food you eat. I’ll teach you easy, modern-day ways to adjust and balance your lifestyle that doesn’t mean massive, overwhelming shifts all at once.

Spring is a wonderful time of year to begin your Ayurvedic journey, shake off winter, and start detoxing.

Starter kit

You’ll receive a starter kit of Ayurvedic goodies to help you on your new wellness journey.

Schedule

(Subject to change)

Friday

1:30-5:30 Arrival, check in, settle into cabins

4:30 Meditation

5:30 Vata-balancing dinner

6:30 Opening ceremony, intro to Ayurveda, the elements, doshas, discover your dosha

9:00 Yoga nidra for sleep

Saturday

7:00-8:00 Morning sadhana: Silent meditation, breath work, movement (your choice: yoga or walking on grounds)

8:00-9:00 Self-serve silent breakfast

9:00 Daily and seasonal routines

10:00 Break

10:30 Ayurveda immersive experience: Self-care rituals

12:00 Meditation

12:30 Pitta-balancing lunch and free time

2:30 Food guidelines and the six tastes

4:00 Cook Ayurvedically-balanced dinner together

5:30 Dinner

7:00 Sattvic mind, soothing self-care by candlelight

9:00 Yoga nidra for sleep

Sunday

7:00-8:00 Morning sadhana: Silent meditation, breath work, movement (your choice: yoga or walking on grounds)

8:00-9:00 Self-serve silent breakfast

9:00 Wheel of Life, self-reflection and integration, create your wellness plan

10:00 Closing ceremony and sharing time

11:00 Kapha-balancing brunch

Cancelation policy

If the reservation is canceled within the 7 days before the scheduled retreat date and time, a credit towards a future stay is provided. A credit is valid for one year from date of issue.

If the reservation is canceled up until the 7th day before the scheduled retreat date and time, a refund will be issued, minus any credit card transaction fees and donations. Refunds will be made to the original credit card on file or by check within two weeks of the notice of cancelation.

An exception may be made in the case of illness, death in the family, or inclement weather, in which case  a credit towards a future stay is provided. A credit is valid for one year from date of issue.

Any donations added to a registration can’t be refunded.